Utility Costs in Austin, Texas

by Ryan Machala

A lot of people aren't sure what to expect to pay for utilities when moving to a new city or a new apartment. It can be difficult to budget if you don't know how much you will be paying. There are a few ways to estimate your bill when relocating.

The easiest way is to ask your landlord or the previous tenant what the average monthly costs are for utilities. If they can't (or won't) tell you, you can contact the individual providers and ask them what their costs are. Be sure to find out what gas, cable, internet, and/or satellite providers are available at your new apartment complex, as not all service providers service all areas.

Austin Energy provides electricity, water, and trash for Austin. Austin energy bills are the lowest in Texas for average residential users and rank lower than the national averages. You can see their rates here. Keep in mind that heating costs tend to spike in the Winter, and cooling costs increase substantially in the Summer. Austin temperatures can reach well over 100 degrees in July, August, and September, so you're likely to see your bill increase dramatically during that time. Austin Energy provides Budget Billing, which gives you the option to have your bills averaged over the year and then you can pay the same amount each month, making it much easier to budget.

If you are new to Austin, you can also look at cost of living indices. Numbeo reports that the average basic utilities (electricity, heating, water, and garbage) for a 914 square feet apartment is $171.43. The range is from $130.33 to $230. Internet is reported to average $44.00 per month.

Need help deciphering what your utility costs will be when you move? Austin Apartments Now can help! Give us a call today at 512-258-8224.